(San Francisco) 16th Street BART smells like urinal

The B in BART doesn't stand for "bathroom," but it smells like it could at the 16th Street Mission Station.

Commuters wrinkle their noses as they walk across either of the two street-level plazas at 16th and Mission streets, where loiterers have few qualms about using the plazas as an open-air restroom, neighbors and officials say.

"The elevator becomes an easy-access urinal or worse," said Tony Sustak, a Richmond resident who commutes to the station daily. "The real dregs take a dump in public. They're not discouraged by the crowds passing by."

Human waste and other debris on the street-level plazas are usually a San Francisco Department of Public Works problem. But although that agency cleans the surrounding sidewalks, the plaza itself is BART's responsibility.

1. What did they expect would happen when they removed

2. Why do they build theses without restrooms? Whether through their own fault or not,

if a city knows an area has a high level of "loiterers" otherwise known as homeless, I'm guessing, then install a few port-a-potties. Jeepers, no one likes to be forced to do their business in public as evidenced by the elevator issue, where I'm assuming some are trying to find privacy. After reading the entire article, not one mention of a proper solution, instead they power wash it every night? WTF? Typical American stupidity, fuss and bitch instead of spending $120 (est) per month for a couple port-a-potties.

3. Every major street intersection in my area smells like a urinal. And there are plenty of businesses

in the area where homeless can go, so there is really no excuse. The city has no budget for people to hose off the sidewalks at bus stops anymore, and local businesses don't give a damn and won't bother to hose off their own sidewalks or even sweep/clean up trash.

5. Pathetic on all fronts.

6. Street level access to that station is on opposing corners & the plaza design promotes congregation.

That should be a good thing but if it's being used as a urinal there must be a good reason, like lack of public toilets in and out of the BART station. I think that a number of people camp on the 16th street plazas. The easiest solution would be to run them off. The better solution would be to address the reasons why they're using the plaza as a relief station.

It's also flat out stupid of BART to shortchange the maintenance of these very busy plaza areas.